Author's Note: Hi everyone! Remember when I said I'd update sooner than I did with the last chapter? Hahahah. November was a month full of catching one sickness after another and I had a lot of assignments to get sorted, so unfortunately it was hard to get motivation. I had most of the chapter written towards the beginning of the month, however it was quite difficult finishing it off for some reason. I hope you all enjoy it!

WolfDaughter27: Thank you for your comment! I really appreciate it :)

Chapter 8: The Goddess Festival, Part 2

"It's my festival soon!" Dessie squealed happily as she twirled around her pond. "The town makes the biggest pizza ever and everyone dances together. Who are you going to dance with, Nami?"

Getting my head around the concept of being one of the few individuals who were able to see a diety was still something I struggled with. Becoming trapped in the routine of moving from one place to the other growing up had put an end to the magic I used to see in everything as a kid, instead my day to day life became boring and I prevented myself from appreciating the mystery in the surroundings around me since I didn't want to enjoy and become attached to yet another place that I wouldn't be in for long. After moving to my farm and opening myself up to the reality that I was able to pursue my childhood fantasies and it wasn't going anywhere helped me to open myself up to appreciate the magic that radiated through the world around me. Whilst Dessie was a large jump in my learning experience, it almost seemed fitting that something like this was happening now of all moments and here of all places.

I had been visiting the goddess-in-training on most days during my travels into Westown, gifting her strawberries I had harvested which she always seemed to be delighted at the sight of when I pulled them out of my bag. I couldn't help but wonder what passers-by thought when they saw me during my interactions with Dessie. Did they just see a farmer taking a break beside a lake or did they see a crazy girl laughing and talking to something that wasn't even there?

I popped a small strawberry into my mouth and laughed. "My dance partner? Actually I don't think I'm going to participate in the dancing. If the pizza is as big as you've said it is then I probably won't be able to move once I've had a slice, let alone dance!"

Dessie gasped, "What? You must have a dance partner! You have to pick someone!"

"Hm... Then I'm sure I could ask Lisette? We're good friends."

Dessie made a displeased cry and pouted. "No Nami, you should dance with a boy! You should wear a pretty dress and ask Wayne to dance with you. That's an order!"

"A-An order? I don't think so, Dessie... I'm sure Wayne has already been asked by plenty of others if he wants to dance and it'd be k-kinda weird.." I stuttered.

Dessie grinned and looked pleased with herself, "Well since it's the Goddess festival and it's my special day you have to! Pretty please?" Dessie gripped her hands together and flattered her eyelashes, "For me?"

No.

I stared into the mirror defeatedly.

"That's more like it!" giggled Dessie as she inspected what the dress she insisted I purchase from Miranda's looked like on me.

"Are you sure this is necessary? Do the villagers really dress up like this?" I pulled the material down slightly and sighed. The dress Dessie had picked out was nice enough, it was a pretty blue dress with a red rose pattern adorning it but it was something that had probably been more fitting for Lisette. For someone who has become used to ending their working day covered in mud and hay and just wearing clothes for comfort and to move easily in, something like this felt very far removed from what I had become used to. I wasn't the type of person to wear pretty things or have intriguate braids in my hair, I was just Nanami.

Dessie cocked her head like a little bird. "Why wouldn't they? It's the Goddess festival! Oh Nami it's going to be so much fun, I'm so excited that you get to experience this."

I couldn't help but smile and loosen up. Dessie reminded me of an adorable child, like a little sister. Seeing her smiling and twirling around the room, imitating waltzing dancers made me happy and want to let my hair down for the day, for her.

"Right Dessie," I stepped away from the mirror and took a small box of golden string and yellow flowers off of my table, "I got the hair pieces you told me to get, now you need to prove to me you're really as good at styling hair as you claimed you were." I sat down and handed her the small box and a brush, letting her work her creative vision.

~~

I crossed my arms across my body awkwardly as I walked into the festival grounds, I felt naked wearing something that was so different from my everyday attire. Dessie insisted that she wanted me to stand out when she begged me to wear what she had suggested, but blending into the background and looking plain was my comfort zone.

I could see Dessie standing at the back of the festival grounds gazing up at a marble statue of the Harvest Goddess in amazement, it was easy to see the admiration towards the older goddess in her face and how motivated she was to complete her training. Dessie seemed so happy whenever she spoke about the festival and seemed to be content with the set up. There were bouquets of fresh flowers everywhere and bunting in the shape of leaves hanging around the length of the festival space. When I had popped into Lisette's flower shop earlier in the week to visit her for our weekly tea and cake session I had found her busily arranging the flowers and decorations for this festival, this was in Lisette's element so it wasn't surprising that the area looked so pretty but I still felt guilty about her having to take on such a big workload by herself. As I made my way towards her I felt a hand on my shoulder

As I made my way towards Dessie I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"How'dya think my pizza creation looks, Nami?" Uncle Frank grinned proudly. The centerpiece of the festival was a huge pizza that stood in the middle of the festival. It was like one of those food creations you'd see in a worlds record book or something a great of friends would try to finish in order to get it for free in a restaurant but never succeed in their challenge.

"It looks amazing, Frank! I could smell it as I was leaving my farm, I can't wait to try it!"

Frank chuckled like soft thunder on a stormy night, "Well I hope ya enjoy it because I have so many ingredients left over that I'll be feeding you pizza for a while when you visit." He ruffled my hair and smiled before asking the question I was hoping at least he of all people would avoid. "Have any of the boys here ask yer for a dance yet?"

I could feel the blush burn through my cheeks. I felt awkward as I tried to come off as cool. "But Uncle Frank, you're the coolest guy here. Why don't we dance together?"

Frank grinned. "Well I can't disagree with that statement, but I have two left feet and I hurt my back on the farm yesterday so Ford says I need to take it easy. I'll cheer ya on though!"

I fought the frown that was attempting to emerge and instead tried to smile back. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Dessie waving around and trying to gain my attention. When we locked eyes she pointed enthusiastically in the direction of a certain postman who she had been nagging at me all week to dance with. With a small sigh, I parted ways with Uncle Frank and walked over to Wayne who seemed to be having some sort of debate with Ford.

"Good grief... To offer something like Pizza to a God..." Ford muttered disapprovingly as I walked over. "Isn't it just extremely unhealthy?"

Wayne gave a smile and nod to me before turning back to Ford and saying seriously, "Wasn't it proved recently that Pizza in fact has a revolutionary effect for health."

"What? I have never heard such a story. There's no way that this pizza could be healthy in the first place!" Ford scoffed and folded his arms.

Wayne looked confused, I was sure he was trying to pull Ford's leg but he was definitely believable. "Huh? Don't you know about it, Ford? When you combine tomato, cheese and basil together, they have a preventive effect again diseases, you see."

"Like I said, I have never heard something like that before. I just can't believe something without precedent for such a case." Ford shook his head.

"Hey Nami, have you ever seen your uncle Frank catch a cold?" Wayne turned to me and smiled, I was slightly taken aback so I wasn't expecting to be part of this debate and I didn't have any idea where it was going.

I shook my head slightly, "No, actually. I've never seen him catch one, he's always really healthy."

Wayne winked at me and turned back to Ford who was still shaking his head disapprovingly. "Frank eats pizza all the time, you know. And like Nami says he's never caught a cold."

Ford's eyes widened and he looked stunned, "You have a point!" He exclaimed. "It appears that I was being shallow in my understanding this time. Well then, I guess I will eat this pizza up!" He smiled slightly and rushed over to grab a slice of pizza, eating it carefully.

Behind him Wayne burst into laugher, "You really are gullible, aren't you! I was lying, you know. As if something like that could ever happen!"

Ford placed the pizza down on his paper plate quickly, suddenly looking revolted. "What?! You tricked me again! I will never believe what you say anymore." Ford kept shaking his head in disbelief. "I'll be using the longest needle when you're due for your shots."

Wayne tried to suppress another laugh as Ford stormed off to speak to Frank. After Ford had gone Wayne started to chuckle happily, something about it was contagious and I found myself laughing along with him. I'd never seen this cheeky side of Wayne before, yet I had a feeling that Ford was usually the victim of his pranks.

"I'm surprised he believed you, he seems like someone who is usually very set in his ways." I smiled.

"Well eating pizza can be good for ya', just not in the ways he wants it to be." Wayne winked. "How are you enjoying the festival so far?"

I glanced down for a moment to see Dessie suddenly standing between us, grinning like a child on Christmas. I tried to discreetly raise my eyebrows at her to tell her to stop without looking weird. I looked back up at Wayne and tried to ignore her. "I remember my Uncle Frank taking me to a few festivals when I'd visit as a kid, but I don't think I've ever attended this one. A festival centered around eating a massive pizza is definitely my type of thing."

"Ask him to dance with you!" Dessie giggled as she pulled on my skirt to try and get my attention. I bit my lip to stop myself from instinctively responding to her pleas.

"Your uncle really does make a mighty fine pizza, there's usually more than enough left over to take home between us all and keep me fed for the week. Ya think you'd get bored of eating pizza but Frank's is so tasty."

I nodded quickly, "Uncle Frank is a really good cook! The fresh crops he uses in his food always tastes so yummy.

"C'mon Nami..." Dessie was pulling on my dress impatiently, "All you have to do is ask him if he wants to dance! He won't bite!"

I tried not to show my annoyance to Wayne. I hoped to him I looked cool like a cat, but my inner battle at trying not to respond to Dessie and look like a crazy person probably wasn't working in my favour. I glanced around the festival area quietly, all of the attendees were villagers of Westown and no members of Wayne's fanclub were in sight. I considered giving into Dessie and taking my chance, whilst it seemed like the only people here were those who there wouldn't be any negative implications with if I asked Wayne if you'd like to share a dance between friends. On the other hand, a tiny voice hissed at me for being too naive and insisted I shouldn't even be conversing with Wayne right now after what had happened to my farm since the culprits would find out sooner or later.

"Did Megan tell you about the dancing tradition we have 'ere at this festival?"

I felt myself being pulled back to reality.

"O-Oh, she mentioned it briefly..." I glanced down at Dessie then said hesitantly, "Who are you dancing with this year?"

Wayne took his hat of quietly and scratched the back of his head, "Actually I don't have a dance partner at the moment. I got so distracted trying to find Ford a dance partner with Brad that I never though about my own." He smiled sheepishly. "How about y'all?"

Dessie squealed excitedly upon hearing Wayne's response. "Now's you're chance, Nami! You can't leave him without a dance partner~" She teased.

"I don't have one either. I was going to ask my uncle Frank but he hurt his back." I paused briefly for a moment, debating whether to just ask and see what happens. It was just a dance, it was no big deal. I took a breath and then bit the bullet. "Would you like to be my dance partner? I don't have any experience but since we don't have a partner it could be fun..."

I readied myself for rejection.

"It's an honour to accept a dance from a lady as lovely as you." Wayne grinned, after giving a response I wasn't expecting. I felt my cheek redden slightly at his comment. An honour? Lovely? "I'd be happy to be your partner just follow my lead."

~~~

When the music started we spun around the small dancefloor. Wayne seemed to definitely have experience with dancing in hold, he lead me around as the music played and I let myself savour the moment. Dessie was twirling around in the middle of everyone, giggling and grinning to herself as she paused every now at then to admire the other couples and poke fun at me. In the moment everyone seemed to be having fun. I felt like I was connected to the residents of Westown and had a community in which I finally belonged. I felt butterflies beating inside of me as I envisioned my future here.

I glanced up at Wayne after he twirled me around.

The way his lips lifted upward.

The way his one dimple crinkles and the way his teeth are perfectly aligned.

The warm glow his happiness gives.

Wayne's smile is a ray of sunshine, and I am a sunburn.